Huge difference with the Dolphins this year | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Huge difference with the Dolphins this year

FinfanInBuffalo

FinfanInBuffalo

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IMO, the biggest difference with the Dolphins this year compared to 2008 and every Dolphins playoff team since 1997 is that this playoff run wasn't built on some gimmick, fluke circumstances, or some feeling of impending doom. This year we made the playoffs despite some unusual circumstances, not because of them.

2008 was a flash in the pan. I felt it then. Everyone figured that the next season the Pats would be back on top and we'd be starting over trying to find some new way to win.

The Wanny era was clouded in huge doubts over the HC and a concern whether that style of offense could last. 2000-2003 was the least confident 41 win stretch in NFL history.

1998 and 1999 were (for me) hugely concerning because of the winding down of Marino's career and the ridiculous choice of Kippy Brown as the OC. Watching 2 years of a high school offense with Marino at the helm was depressing. I was not a fan of JJ. It seemed like we were at the end of something, not at the beginning of something.

I fully expect a first round exit this season, but for the first time in 20 years I feel like we are building something again, not just hanging on or treading water. We saw a team that was undermanned but resilient. There has been a turn around of the culture. We have a HC that can adapt for the first time since Don Shula. JJ, Wanny, Saban, Cameron, Sparano, and Philbin all have one trait in common. They all seemed to have an inflexible approach. Everyone one of them set about building a team to fit how they wanted to coach. Not since Shula have we had a coach with the ability to REALLY COACH. That is, take the players you have and make the best with them. I feel like we may finally again have a coach that someone will say this about someday:

He can take his'n and beat your'n and take your'n and beat his'n
Click to expand...

Go Fins!
 
While I share your optimism, I'm concerned about regressing a little next year.

Our schedule was pretty soft, and we didn't fare to well against good teams. I'm hoping a good draft/free agency shores up some of our holes, and replaces some of our more injury prone players. I don't see us having such an easy schedule next year.

Having said that, I'm gonna enjoy the hell outta this playoff game. Been a looooong time coming!
 
malok said:
While I share your optimism, I'm concerned about regressing a little next year.

Our schedule was pretty soft, and we didn't fare to well against good teams. I'm hoping a good draft/free agency shores up some of our holes, and replaces some of our more injury prone players. I don't see us having such an easy schedule next year.

Having said that, I'm gonna enjoy the hell outta this playoff game. Been a looooong time coming!
Click to expand...

You are correct about the schedule next year. It will be more difficult. But we also have an opportunity to add talent that allows us to deal with that schedule. Fix the holes on this team and build the depth and we should be fine. Our expectations have changed for our Dolphins and I sense that Gase has the ability to meet them.
 
The sched before the year looked rough.. you never know what you will get.
But yes the afc west is rough
 
coming into this year who knew that Zona, Buffalo, Jets coming off a 10 win season, Niners wouldn't be good, you never know from year to year
 
The away games at KC, ATL, BALT and NE X 2 are the toughest games. Also, I don't "fully expect" a first round exist this year.
 
I disagree. Getting into the playoffs with this defense actually was a fluke.
 
cafinfan408 said:
The sched before the year looked rough.. you never know what you will get.
But yes the afc west is rough
Click to expand...

You never know what you're going to get but you have to figure these things will balance out and the previous two seasons were two of the easiest schedules in the league. Having said that the Bills should have kept Rex for another season and the Jets should have fired Bowles so the AFC East should remain nice and easy.
 
Completely agree with the OP. That Dolphins 2008 team was all about the Wildcat and Chad Pennington, both of which everyone recognized at the time as incredibly short term solutions. Chad Henne, with his misaligned eyes and penchant for never changing his facial expression ever, was waiting in the wings and it was only a matter of time until the Wildcat got figured out and planned around.

This Dolphins team has intelligence at the top. I gotta be honest, I am not 100% certain Tannehill is going to be fantastic once he returns because a lot of NFL players are a bit more fearful when they return from their first major injury...but I DO think Gase has the ability to succeed no matter the QB that's in there. Gase is young enough we don't have to worry about him retiring, and has had enough early success to avoid being on the perpetual Dolphins hot seat from year one.

It's a rare positive situation we can build around on this team for once. Regardless of a blowout playoff loss, this season has been better for the Dolphins long term than any in decades.
 
I think in year two of the Gase regime, if the Dolphins progress as I hope they do then everyone who's a fan of the team can say the team is finally on the road back to Perfectsville USA!
 
I'm looking forward to this off season and see if we add the right parts. We need at least one guard and maybe two. A TE would be gravy but on defense we probably need 5 new starters

Ozzy rules!!
 
For the first time since Ricky Williams left, we are running the ball.

"There's something about being unable to stop the run that's demoralizing to players," a former NFL head coach/defensive coordinator told me. "The running game zaps your players' will ... It's like absorbing a ton of body blows as a boxer -- it's only a matter of time before you get knocked out."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-should-not-be-dismissed-seahawks-big-problem
 
I am concerned about some regression in win totals next year. I do expect significant improvement in statistics, especially on the defensive side, but that may not translate to victories. We were truly the recipients of many game changing plays. It would be hard to expect so many breaks in our favor. Our opponent schedule looks more difficult based on this years records, but may not be so difficult this time next year. Keys next year will be:

One game at time approach,
Don't dig a hole early in the season,
Dominate the Home games
Stay Healthy.
 
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